Liquid clarifier

Abstract

A liquid clarifier in the form of an enclosure in which a conical filter membrane is mounted. An inlet is mounted to the enclosure below the conical filter membrane and an outlet is mounted to the enclosure above the membrane so than an upflow of liquid is created during filtering. The upflow causes the liquid to sweep across the conical filter membrane to prevent accumulation of particulate matter on the membrane. A conical baffle is coupled to the inlet to reduce turbulence of the liquid at a lower end of the enclosure to promote separation by gravity of the particles from the liquid.

I claim: 
     
       1. A device for clarifying liquid, comprising: an enclosure for holding liquid;   an inlet coupled to the enclosure, said inlet controllably allowing liquid to enter into the enclosure;   an outlet coupled to the enclosure above said inlet, said outlet allowing filtered liquid to pass outside of the filter;   a filter membrane disposed within the enclosure and designed and positioned above said inlet and below said outlet such that an upflow of liquid along the membrane causes the liquid to sweep across the filter membrane to prevent particulate matter from accumulating on said filter membrane.   
     
     
       2. The liquid clarifying device of claim 1 wherein the filter membrane is a conical filter membrane. 
     
     
       3. The liquid clarifying device of claim 1 wherein the filter membrane is a conical filter membrane having an apex with downwardly sloping walls terminating in an annular base, the conical filter membrane being mounted inside the enclosure with the apex positioned above the base, wherein the liquid passes upwardly to sweep across the conical membrane to free particulate matter from the membrane and prevent particulate matter from building up on said membrane. 
     
     
       4. The liquid clarifying device of claim 1 wherein the filter membrane is a conical filter membrane having an apex with downwardly sloping walls terminating in an annular base, the conical filter membrane being mounted inside the enclosure with the apex positioned above the base, wherein the liquid passes upwardly to sweep across the conical membrane to free particulate matter from the membrane and prevent particulate matter from building up on said membrane; and wherein the liquid is intermittently introduced into the enclosure through the inlet to vary the turbulence of the liquid within the tank, the liquid passing at a sweeping speed across the filter membrane to enhance separation of the particulate matter by allowing the particulate matter to fall from the filter membrane by gravity toward the bottom of the enclosure when the sweeping speed of the liquid is reduced.   
     
     
       5. The liquid clarifying device of claim 1 wherein the filter membrane is a conical filter membrane having an apex end and an open end, said membrane being mounted inside the enclosure so that the open end spans substantially an entire inside cross-sectional area of the enclosure; said apex end being positioned above the open end, the liquid passing through said liquid clarifying device in an upward flow, said upward flow of liquid preventing particulate matter from accumulating on said filter membrane. 
     
     
       6. The liquid clarifying device of claim 1, further comprising: a baffle positioned about the inlet, said baffle reducing the turbulence of the liquid within portions of the enclosure to promote separation of particulate matter by gravity.   
     
     
       7. The liquid clarifying device of claim 1, further comprising: a conical baffle having a narrowed end and an enlarged end, said narrowed end secured to the said inlet, said enlarged end extending downward and radially outwardly from said narrowed end, said enlarged end spaced from an inside wall of said enclosure to allow liquid entering into the enclosure through said inlet to pass between said enlarged end and said inside wall, said baffle reducing the turbulence of the liquid within portions of the enclosure to promote separation of particulate matter by gravity.   
     
     
       8. The liquid clarifying device of claim 1, further comprising: a baffle positioned about the inlet, said baffle reducing turbulence of the liquid within the enclosure to promote separation of particulate matter by gravity; and   wherein the filter membrane is a conical filter membrane having an apex with downwardly sloping walls terminating in an annular base, the membrane being mounted inside the enclosure with the apex positioned above the base, wherein the liquid passes upwardly to sweep across the conical membrane to free particulate matter from the membrane and prevent particulate matter from building up on said membrane.   
     
     
       9. A liquid clarifying device of claim 1, further comprising: an access port coupled to the enclosure, said access port providing an access location for monitoring conditions within the enclosure.   
     
     
       10. A liquid clarifying device of claim 1, further comprising: a removable lid, said lid being complimentary in size to the periphery of the enclosure.   
     
     
       11. A liquid clarifying device according to claim 1, further comprising: a removable lid, said lid being complimentary in size to the periphery of the enclosure;   a pair of handles mounted on top of the lid to allow a person removing the lid to grasp the lid with both hands for quick, easy removal; and   a hook coupled to a bottom surface of the lid, said hook allowing the lid to be hanged to the side of the enclosure while the enclosure is being accessed.   
     
     
       12. A liquid clarifying apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the filter membrane is a conical filter membrane having an apex with downwardly sloping walls terminating in an annular base, the membrane being mounted inside the enclosure with the apex positioned above the base, wherein the liquid passes upwardly to sweep across the conical membrane to free particulate matter from the membrane and prevent particulate matter from building up on said membrane; wherein the annular base is mounted upon an annular seal which prevents liquid from passing between the filter and an inner wall of the enclosure.   
     
     
       13. The clarifying device of claim 1, further comprising: a drain coupled to the enclosure;   wherein the enclosure includes a conical bottom portion comprised of narrowing walls which converge and terminate at a bottom point in the form of an inverted apex;   wherein the conical bottom portion concentrates the particulate matter to form sludge which is removed from the enclosure by means of said drain.   
     
     
       14. The clarifying device of claim 1, further comprising: a drain coupled to the enclosure;   wherein the enclosure includes a conical bottom portion comprised of narrowing walls which converge and terminate at a bottom point in the form of an inverted apex;   wherein the conical bottom portion concentrates the particulate matter to form sludge which is removed from the enclosure by means of said drain;   a plurality of support brackets coupled to an exterior wall of the conical bottom, said plurality of support brackets providing a support location for the enclosure.   
     
     
       15. The clarifying device of claim 1 wherein the filter membrane is readily removable and exchangeable so that various sizes of particles can be separated by the filter membrane. 
     
     
       16. A device for clarifying liquid, comprising: an enclosure for holding liquid;   an inlet coupled to the enclosure, said inlet controllably allowing liquid to enter into the container;   a conical filter membrane disposed within the enclosure, said filter membrane having an apex with downwardly sloping walls terminating in an annular base, the membrane being mounted inside the enclosure with the apex positioned above the base designed to enable the liquid to pass upwardly and sweep across the conical membrane to separate particulate matter from the membrane and prevent particulate matter from building up on said membrane, said filter membrane separating particulate matter from the liquid to clarify the liquid;   an outlet coupled to the enclosure above said inlet, said outlet removing clarified liquid from the enclosure;   said filter membrane being positioned above said inlet and below said outlet such that an upflow causes the liquid to sweep across said filter membrane to prevent particulate matter from accumulating on said filter membrane;   a conical baffle having a narrowed end and an enlarged end, said narrowed end secured to the said inlet, said enlarged end extending downward and radially outwardly from said narrowed end, said enlarged end spaced from an inside wall of said enclosure to allow liquid entering into the enclosure through said inlet to pass between said enlarged end and said inside wall, said baffle reducing the turbulence of the liquid within the portions of the enclosure to promote separation of particulate matter by gravity;   a drain coupled to the enclosure;   wherein the enclosure includes a conical bottom portion comprised of narrowing walls which converge and terminate at a bottom point in the form of an inverted apex;   wherein the conical bottom portion concentrates the particulate matter to form sludge which is removed from the enclosure by means of said drain.   
     
     
       17. The clarifying device of claim 16 wherein the liquid is intermittently introduced into the enclosure through the inlet to vary the turbulence of the liquid within the tank, the liquid passing at a sweeping speed across the filter membrane to enhance separation of the particulate matter by allowing the particulate matter to fall from the filter membrane by gravity toward the bottom of the enclosure when the sweeping speed of the liquid is reduced. 
     
     
       18. The clarifying device of claim 16, further comprising: a removable lid, said lid being complimentary in size to the periphery of the enclosure;   a pair of handles mounted on top of the lid to allow a person removing the lid to grasp the lid with both hands for quick, easy removal;   a hook coupled to a bottom surface of the lid, said hook allowing the lid to be hanged to the side of the enclosure while the enclosure is being accessed;   wherein the liquid is intermittently introduced into the enclosure through the inlet to vary the turbulence of the liquid within the tank, the liquid passing at a sweeping speed across the filter membrane to enhance separation of the particulate matter by allowing the particulate matter to fall from the filter membrane by gravity toward the bottom of the enclosure when the sweeping speed of the liquid is reduced.